Your Guide to All-Ireland Finals Weekend in Dublin. Getting There, Getting Around.
Published: 29th June 2026
Your Guide to All-Ireland Finals Weekend in Dublin. Getting There, Getting Around.
There are few sporting occasions anywhere in the world quite like All-Ireland Finals weekend in Dublin. The city turns a different colour entirely. Fans pour in from every county in Ireland, the pubs fill from mid-morning, the streets hum with accents from every corner of the country, and Croke Park, Europe's third-largest stadium with a capacity of over 82,000, becomes the most electric place on the island.
In 2026, there are two All-Ireland Finals to plan around. The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final takes place on Sunday 19th July, followed by the All-Ireland Senior Football Final on Sunday 26th July. That gives fans two separate chances to experience one of the great days in Irish sport, and gives visitors to Dublin two extraordinary weekends to build a trip around.
Whether you already have tickets, you're coming for the atmosphere, or you're flying in from abroad and experiencing an All-Ireland Final for the first time, this guide covers everything you need to know about getting to Dublin, getting around the city, and making the most of the weekend.
🏑 What Are the All-Ireland Finals?
The All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship are the two premier inter-county competitions organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Both are amateur competitions, meaning every player who takes to the field at Croke Park does so purely for the love of the game and the honour of representing their county. That fact alone gives the occasion a unique emotional intensity that sets it apart from professional sport.
Hurling is widely regarded as the fastest field sport in the world, combining the athleticism of Gaelic football with the skill of striking a small leather ball at speed. Gaelic football is Ireland's most popular sport by attendance and community participation. Both finals draw crowds of over 80,000 to Croke Park in Dublin, with hundreds of thousands more watching on television across Ireland and around the world.
In 2026 the finals have moved to July, with the Hurling Final on 19th July and the Football Final on 26th July. This makes both finals ideal anchor points for a summer visit to Dublin.
📅 The 2026 All-Ireland Finals. Key Dates
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final Sunday 19th July 2026 Croke Park, Jones Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 3
All-Ireland Senior Football Final Sunday 26th July 2026 Croke Park, Jones Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 3
Both finals take place on Sunday afternoons. Throw-in times are confirmed closer to the event by the GAA. Check gaa.ie for the latest information on timing and ticketing.
🎟️ Getting Tickets for the All-Ireland Finals
This is the most important thing to know before planning your trip. Tickets for the All-Ireland Hurling and Football Finals are not sold to the general public through normal channels. The GAA distributes the vast majority of tickets directly to the competing county boards, who then allocate them through their clubs and members.
This means that if you do not have a connection to a GAA club in one of the competing counties, getting a ticket can be very difficult. Your options include:
If your county is in the final: Contact your local GAA club or county board as early as possible. Tickets are allocated through the club structure and go quickly.
If you are travelling from abroad or do not have a club connection: A small number of tickets may be available through authorised resellers and hospitality packages. Check gaa.ie and reputable hospitality providers for availability. Be aware that unofficial resale tickets carry significant risk, so always buy through verified sources.
If you cannot get a ticket: Don't worry. The experience of being in Dublin on All-Ireland Final day, even without a ticket, is something genuinely special. More on that below.
🍺 The Atmosphere in Dublin on Final Day. With or Without a Ticket
One of the best-kept secrets about All-Ireland Finals weekend is that you don't need to be inside Croke Park to have a brilliant day. The atmosphere across Dublin city centre on Final Sunday is extraordinary. County colours flood the streets from early morning, pubs across the northside fill with supporters singing and swapping stories, and the city takes on a festival energy that is completely unlike any other day of the year.
The best areas to soak up the atmosphere:
Drumcondra and the northside, the streets immediately surrounding Croke Park, are where the pre-match atmosphere is at its most intense. Pubs like Fagan's, Gills and the Cat and Cage fill up hours before throw-in and are famous on Final day.
O'Connell Street and the city centre are packed with supporters from both counties from mid-morning. The buzz along the quays and in Temple Bar is brilliant even if you're watching the match on a screen.
The GAA Museum at Croke Park offers tours and exhibitions year-round and is a brilliant way to connect with the history and culture of the games even if you are not attending the final itself.
✈️ Getting to Dublin From the Airport on Finals Weekend
If you are flying into Dublin for the Hurling or Football Final, the most important thing to sort first is your airport transfer.
Dublin Airport is one of Europe's best-connected hubs, with direct flights from the UK, Europe, North America and beyond. Once you land, Dublin Express Route 782 is the fastest and most reliable way to get from the airport to Dublin city centre, arriving in as little as 14 minutes via the Port Tunnel.
On All-Ireland Finals weekends, roads across Dublin city fill early as supporters stream in from every county. Dublin Express uses the Port Tunnel to bypass city centre traffic entirely, meaning your journey time from the airport is not affected by the match day congestion. Coaches run every 7.5 minutes during peak hours, 365 days a year, with no need to pre-book for most services.
Single fares from €9. Book at dublinexpress.ie.
✔ Dublin Express tip: Finals weekends are among the busiest travel days of the year in Dublin. If you are flying in on the morning of the final, build in extra time for your onward journey from the city centre to Croke Park. Getting from the airport to the city on Dublin Express is fast. Getting from the city to Croke Park on foot or by bus will take longer than usual due to the volume of supporters on the streets.
🏟️ Getting From Dublin City Centre to Croke Park
Croke Park is located in Drumcondra, Dublin 3, approximately 2km north of O'Connell Street. On Final day, this walk is one of the great experiences of the occasion. The streets fill with county colours and the noise builds as you get closer to the stadium. Give yourself at least 45 minutes to walk from the city centre on match day.
Your options for getting from the city centre to Croke Park:
On foot: The most popular option on Final day. From O'Connell Street, follow the crowd north along Drumcondra Road. The journey takes around 25 to 35 minutes at a normal pace, longer on match day when the streets are packed.
By bus: Multiple Dublin Bus routes serve the area around Croke Park including routes 1, 7, 11, 13, 16 and others. Check the TFI Journey Planner app for live route information on the day.
By DART or train: The closest DART stations are Connolly and Clontarf Road. Connolly is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the stadium. The closest mainline and Luas stop is also at Connolly Station.
By taxi or rideshare: Taxis are available from the city centre but expect delays on match day. Traffic around Jones Road and Drumcondra Road is heavily congested in the hour or two before throw-in.
✔ Dublin Express tip: Dublin Express drops you on O'Connell Street and Pearse Street both of which are excellent starting points for the walk to Croke Park. If you are travelling from outside the city by coach or intercity rail, Bus Eireann and Irish Rail run additional services into Dublin on Finals weekends. Check tfi.ie for full details.
🗺️ Planning Your Finals Weekend. A Suggested Itinerary
Saturday (day before the final)
Arrive into Dublin Airport and jump on Dublin Express to the city centre. Check in to your accommodation and spend the afternoon exploring the city. The evening before the final is one of the most enjoyable in Dublin. Head to a pub in the city centre or Drumcondra and enjoy the build-up atmosphere as supporters arrive from across the country. Pubs showing big matches tend to be standing room only by evening so arrive early to secure a good spot.
Sunday (Final day)
Give yourself a relaxed morning. The city starts buzzing early so even a stroll along the quays or around St Stephen's Green before the match is a great way to take it all in. If you have a ticket, aim to leave for Croke Park at least 90 minutes before throw-in. If you are watching in a pub, get there early as the popular spots fill up fast. After the match, the city centre is incredible regardless of the result. The celebrations or the commiserations are both worth experiencing.
🏛️ What Else to Do in Dublin on Finals Weekend
All-Ireland Finals weekend is a brilliant reason to build a longer Dublin trip around. The city has enough to fill several days easily.
The GAA Museum at Croke Park is one of Dublin's best visitor attractions and is worth a morning of anyone's time. Interactive exhibits, the original Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy cups, and a fascinating history of Irish sport and culture. Open year-round, tickets available at crokepark.ie.
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in the Docklands is one of Europe's most awarded tourist attractions. Dublin Express customers can save on entry via dublinexpress.ie/offers.
Guinness Storehouse in St James's Gate is a short walk or taxi from the city centre and one of the most visited attractions in Ireland. Seven floors of brewing history finishing with a pint at the Gravity Bar with a 360 degree view of the city.
Dublin's pub and restaurant scene is at its absolute best on a summer weekend. Whether you are in the mood for a traditional session pub, a rooftop cocktail bar or a michelin-starred dinner, the city has options at every level.
🚌 Travelling to Dublin for the Finals From Belfast
Dublin Express also connects Belfast City Centre directly to Dublin Airport, making it straightforward for supporters travelling from Northern Ireland to make the trip down for Finals weekend.
Services run multiple times daily between Belfast and Dublin Airport, with no need to change in the city centre. Simply board in Belfast, arrive at Dublin Airport and connect directly to Dublin city centre on Dublin Express Route 782.
It is one of the easiest ways to make the journey and means you can travel without the hassle of driving, parking or navigating an unfamiliar road network on one of the busiest days of the year in Dublin.
Fares from £8.50 from Belfast. Book at dublinexpress.ie.
Ready to Plan Your All-Ireland Finals Trip?
Whether you're a lifelong GAA fan with tickets already sorted or a first-time visitor looking to experience one of the great days in Irish sport, the 2026 All-Ireland Finals weekends are two of the best reasons to visit Dublin this summer.
Dublin Express gets you from the airport to the city quickly, reliably and affordably, so you can focus on the occasion rather than the logistics.
Book your Dublin Express transfer at dublinexpress.ie.
All event dates and fixture information are correct at time of publication (May 2026). Always check gaa.ie for the latest ticketing, timing and travel information. Dublin Express timetables and fares are available at dublinexpress.ie.
